Esther Anne Lawless

Esther Anne Lawless, age 87, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2026, under hospice care at Mozaic Senior Life in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She was born on April 15, 1938, in Clonbullogue Village, County Offaly, Ireland, to Margaret and Michael Donegan. Esther was one of sixteen children, raised on a family farm alongside her nine brothers and six sisters. Though life was not always easy, her strength, resilience, and ability to overcome challenges defined her spirit. One of Esther’s greatest joys in life was her family. She married Patrick Lawless on September 5, 1962, in County Kildare, Ireland, and together they immigrated to the United States. After first settling in New York, they made their home in 1968 on Mill Plain Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Their door was always open—no need to call ahead—and Esther formed countless friendships that she cherished deeply. Esther was everyone’s “best friend.” If you were sick, she would make you a pot of soup. If you were lonely, she would invite you in for tea and a scone or two. If you simply needed someone to talk to, Esther was always there—ready to listen over a glass of wine and warm conversation. She built lasting friendships through her community at Belvoir Condominiums, the Mill Plain Road neighborhood, the Gaelic American Club, and St. Pius X Church. Volunteering brought Esther great joy. At St. Pius X Church, she helped organize coffee hours after Mass and senior luncheons. At the Gaelic American Club, she was an active and familiar presence—singing in the glee club, working the front door, attending membership meetings, and dancing at Irish céilí events. She especially loved the music of Dermot O’Brien, and her family holds fond memories of traveling together to hear him perform. Known lovingly as “Nanny” to her grandsons, Esther was the ultimate caregiver. From supporting her husband through his illness to raising her children, Sean and Judy, and helping care for her three grandsons, she gave selflessly and tirelessly. She was always the first to offer help, putting others before herself. Nanny will be remembered for her boundless love, her generosity, and, of course, her delicious meatballs, homemade soup, and tea scones. Esther was predeceased by her husband, Patrick Lawless. She is survived by her son, Sean; her daughter, Judy, and her husband, Sean O’Rourke; and her three grandsons, Jack and his wife Julia, Seamus, and Aidan. She is also survived by her sister Teresa of California and her brothers Tony and Noel of Ireland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Esther’s memory to Mozaic Senior Life 4200 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 (www.mozaicsl.org/donate/memorial-gifts-honorariums-donate) or to the Dementia Society of America. PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 Dementia Society of America">(Dementia Society of America) A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Drive, Fairfield, Connecticut. Interment will be held privately in Oak Lawn Cemetery.